Explosion in the middle of the campaign
This weekend, Colombia woke up to news that hurts. An attack with explosives in the department of Cauca left at least 21 people dead and more than 50 injured, according to the Ministry of Defense. It is not just another number: it is families, communities, broken lives.
The authorities point to the dissidents of the former FARC, specifically the Estado Mayor Central, that group that never fully boarded the peace train signed in 2016. The area is not a coincidence: Cauca is a key corridor for drug trafficking and illegal mining, territories that these groups dispute like hungry dogs.
The official response and what’s coming
The government has already promised a tough line: more soldiers, more police, more presence. But one wonders if that is enough when the roots of the conflict are deeper than any camouflage. The presidential elections are just around the corner, and this attack puts security at the center of the debate.
“We strongly condemn this cowardly act and will bring those responsible to justice,” the Ministry of Defense said.
Nice words. But Colombians have heard promises before. The real question is: how do you protect a population that lives trapped between bullets and broken promises? Meanwhile, the country continues to wait for answers that do not come with simply increasing the force.
